Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a three-dimensional scaffold including at least one layer of highly-aligned fibers. The at least one layer of highly-aligned fibers is curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to a general direction of the fibers. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for fabricating a three-dimensional scaffold. The method includes: electro spinning a plurality of fibers to produce at least one layer of highly-aligned fibers and forming the at least one layer of highly-aligned fibers into a three-dimensional scaffold without disturbing the alignment of the highly-aligned polymer fibers. A further aspect of the invention provides methods for using a three-dimensional scaffold to treat nerve or spinal cord injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of stem cells. More specifically, the invention provides methods and compositions useful for forming three-dimensional human retinal tissue in vitro. In a specific embodiment, an in vitro method for differentiating hiPSCs into three-dimensional retinal tissue comprising functional photoreceptors comprises the steps of (a) culturing the hiPSCs to form aggregates; (b) transitioning the aggregates into a neural induction medium; (c) seeding the aggregates on to extracellular matrix coated cell culture substrates; (d) replacing NIM with a chemically-defined differentiation medium; (e) detaching NR domains; (f) culturing in suspension; and (g) adding animal serum or plasma component and retinoic acid.

Abstract: Biomarkers relevant to neurons in the brain, in particular at single cell levels, are identified by using olfactory neurons as the best surrogates from subjects so as to establish diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of brain conditions.

Abstract: Mimetic peptides having anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic properties and methods of their use for treating cancer, ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, and other-angiogenesis-dependent diseases are disclosed, More particularly, an isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence LRRFSTAPFAFIDINDVINF, which exhibits anti-angiogenic activity in endothelial cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and tube formation assays, anti-migratory activity in human breast cancer cells in vitro, anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic activity in vivo in breast cancer xenograft models, and age-related macular degeneration models is disclosed. The isolate peptide also exhibits anti-lymphangiogenic and directly anti-tumorigenic properties.

Abstract: A device may receive, from one or more electrodes, information identifying brain activity for a first time period. The device may predict, based on the information identifying the brain activity for the first time period, predicted brain activity for a second time period that is to occur after the first time period. The device may determine, based on the predicted brain activity for the second time period, a brain stimulus for the second time period, wherein the brain stimulus is associated with a frequency and a phase determined based on the predicted brain activity for the second time period. The device may cause the brain stimulus to be applied in accordance with the frequency and the phase during the second time period.

Abstract: The inventors surprisingly found that neural stimulation caused the synthesis and degradation of proteins into peptides which were then secreted into the cell media within minutes of stimulation by a novel neural-specific and membrane bound proteasome (neuronal membrane proteasome or NMP) that is transmembrane in nature. These secreted, activity-induced, proteasomal peptides (SNAPPs) range in size from about 500 Daltons to about 3000 Daltons. Surprisingly none of the peptides appear to be those previously known to have any neuronal function. Moreover, these SNAPPs have stimulatory activity and are heretofore a new class of signaling molecules. Moreover, the NMP appears to play a highly significant role in aspects of neuronal signaling known to be critical for neuronal function.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of predicting a state of a system that is represented by a partial differential equation. The method comprises training a neural network for an initial state of said system to obtain a set of neural network parameters to provide a spatial representation of said system at an initial time. The method further comprises modifying said parameters for intermediate times between said initial time and a prediction time such that each modified set of parameters is used to provide a respective spatial representation of said system at each corresponding intermediate time using said neural network. The method further comprises modifying said set of parameters to provide a prediction set of parameters that is used to provide a predicted spatial representation of said system at said prediction time using said neural network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of skin rejuvenation. Specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting skin rejuvenation using a toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist and retinoic acid or derivatives thereof. In a specific embodiment, a method for treating wrinkles in a subject comprises the steps of (a) administering to the area of the subject comprising a wrinkle a composition comprising an effective amount of retinoic acid or a derivative thereof; and administering to the area of the subject comprising a wrinkle a composition comprising an effective amount of a TLR3 agonist.

Abstract: A device may receive a coherent energy illuminated image, of a particular object, that includes laser speckle. The device may process, using a laser speckle reduction model, the coherent energy illuminated image to generate a laser speckle-reduced image. The device may provide the laser speckle-reduced image as output to permit diagnostics based on the laser speckle-reduced image.

Abstract: Described are methods of treating or preventing a virus in a subject comprising administering ozonides to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention is a DNA expression vector comprising: a toxP: a mutant toxO that blocks Fe-mediated regulation of gene expression; and a DNA sequence encoding a protein, wherein the toxP and the mutant toxO regulate expression of the DNA segment encoding the protein. It is preferred that DNA expression vectors of the present invention include DNA sequences encoding a signal peptide so that a protein expressed is attached to the signal peptide prior to processing. Novel proteins are produced off of the DNA expression vector of the present invention.

Abstract: In one aspect, compositions are provided for the early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and include microRNAs, e.g. miR-21 and inhibitors thereof. The treatment compositions can be useful for early detection, and for intercepting developing premalignant pancreatic lesions and other KRAS-driven premalignancies.

Abstract: An active filter system for filtering power on a power system may include a converter, an energy storage device, and control circuitry. The converter may be configured to be electrically coupled to a power source at a converter input and an active filter system bus at a converter output. The converter may be configured to deliver power to the active filter system bus that serves a dynamic load. The energy storage device may be electrically coupled to the active filter system bus and configured to filter the power via charge and discharge of an energy storage device. The control circuitry may be configured to control the converter to condition power drawn from the power source to create a filtered load based on programmable active filter controls. The programmable active filter controls may be based on a measurement of a load current being supplied to the dynamic load and a state of charge of the energy storage device.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of classifying lesions in medical image of subjects in certain embodiments. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are magnetofluidic cartridges of use in a wide variety of sample analysis applications, including nucleic acid amplification assays. The magnetofluidic cartridges include sample inlet wells and sample analysis wells for performing controlled serial elution techniques that enables execution of extraction/purification and splitting of analytes for multiplex detection via magnetic actuation only. Related magnetofluidic devices, kits, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is associated with monitoring health of a patient. An example photoacoustic monitoring device includes a light-guiding component to guide light energy toward tissue to cause the light energy to be absorbed by the tissue; an ultrasound transmission component to transmit acoustic energy toward the tissue to cause a biological response from the tissue; and a sensing component to perform one or more of ultrasound or photoacoustic imaging to sense the biological response from the tissue and permit a status of the tissue to be determined. In some implementations, the biological response is sensed based on the light energy absorbed by the tissue during the biological response caused by the acoustic energy transmitted toward the tissue.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting target molecules using electrochemical sensors that comprise biomolecular receptor-bound redox reporters. Related systems and computer readable media are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for non-invasive anatomical and systemic cooling, fluid removal and/or energy removal. The method and device provide for removal of fluid and cooling of various bodily fluid-containing spaces or surfaces, such as mucus-containing spaces or surfaces via delivery of a dry fluid not including a coolant into or upon the mucus-containing space or surface. Exposure of such mucus to the dry fluid results in evaporation of body fluid, removal of energy, cooling of the anatomical feature, and systemic cooling. In this fashion, therapeutic hypothermia may be achieved to provide for neuroprotection of various organs after ischemic insult, such the brain after cardiac arrest. Similarly, excess fluid removal may be achieved for treatment of cardiogenic shock or other conditions that cause significant fluid build-up, especially in cases of compromised renal function.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting circulating tumor DNA, cancer cell mutations, and/or cancer cells harboring one or more cancer cell mutations. In some embodiments, methods provided herein include detecting one or more genetic alterations in cell-free DNA. In some embodiments, methods provided herein for detecting one or more genetic alterations in cell-free DNA can be performed when the subject is not known to harbor a cancer cell and/or a cancer cell mutation (e.g., when the subject is not known to harbor a cancer cell having the cancer cell mutation).

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting a disease, condition, or disorder in a subject. In some embodiments, the methods include obtaining a set of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules from a population of exosomes in a biological sample obtained from the subject and detecting a plurality of target RNA molecules corresponding to a selected set of cell-specific exosomal RNA molecules in the set of RNA molecules to generate a target RNA molecular profile for the sample. In some of these embodiments, the methods also include determining that the target RNA molecular profile substantially matches a reference RNA molecular profile that correlates with the disease, condition, or disorder in a subject and/or using at least one algorithm that predicts a likelihood that the target RNA molecular profile correlates with the disease, condition, or disorder in a subject. Related biosensor devices, kits, and systems are also provided.